Hello everyone!
I’m an adult with ARFID in the US who works in a “disability resources office” at a local private college. One of the areas I specialize in is supporting students with dietary related disabilities, so I’ve actually worked with a fair number of students who have ARFID (or likely do) as well!
I wanted to make a post for all the young folks who are living away from home at school, and are having more difficulty with their ARFID because of it. You deserve to be supported by accommodations in housing and in the school’s dinning halls! In the US, the ADA specifically requires you be provided with reasonable accommodations if you request them. (Yes, in many cases even if you don’t have a formal diagnosis of ARFID.) Even if they can’t get you exactly what you want or need, there may be something else that’s available that may provide a little additional support.
Places like health services may also be able to help you with referrals and resources too if they don’t have a dietician on staff you can access.
It’s absolutely ok to ask for these things because this is a real eating disorder and a real disability. You don’t need to wait until you get debilitatingly sick or you’ve exhausted every other idea.
Maybe you’ll even meet someone like me who has ARFID just like you. :)